To every new parent who’s been on the receiving end of unsolicited advice, which is everyone, let’s be honest.

People you don’t know will stop you in the street
and tell you things you didn’t ask to hear.
“Maybe he’s cold? He should be wearing a hat”
People you don’t know will look at you in the street
and give you sympathetic looks,
“Perhaps he’s hungry – I’d give him an extra bottle”
and consoling smiles
“ Are you getting any sleep, love, you look tired.”
And you will look at them, (timidly,
through glassy eyes, made weak
through tears, and love, and uncertainty)
you will look at them, the people on the street,
that you don’t know, and wonder why,
they can’t keep
their goddam
opinions
to themselves.